Successful Missile Defence Press Conference in Nelson

On Thursday January 8th 2004, in support of a national campaign of press conferences held by Peace groups across the country and spearheaded by the Canadian Peace Alliance, a press conference was held at the Vienna Cafe in Nelson ,BC., sponsered locally by the Kootenay Fellowship of Reconcilation. Also participating were John Alton of the Nelson Eco Society and JJ Verigin who represented the U.S.C.C ( Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ, the Doukabors), K.R.U.N.A. ( Kootenay Region United Nations Association) and the Boundary Peace Initiative from Grand Forks, BC. The media was represented by CBC Radio, BKR Radio, Kootenay Co-op Radio and the Nelson Daily News.

The conference was held to draw attention to the meeting of Canada's new Prime Minister Paul Martin and US President George Bush at the Summit of the Americas in Monterrey, Mexico on Jan 12th and 13th, 2004. On their agenda was discussion of Canada's involvement in the US Missile Defence (read Offensive) System. We demand that PM Martin neither discuss or sign anything related to Missile Defence until a full Public and Parliamentary debate takes place in Canada.

Rosemary Carter of KFOR introduced the participants and the event was started off with a "Peace" cheer by Natalie Robinson of the local Radical Cheerleaders. Grant Clubine then read a statement on behalf of KFOR, followed by statements from John Alton and JJ Verigin. Also the media was shown two photos of Isaac Romano and nearly 700 letters signed by local residents asking PM Martin and Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham for public and Parliamentary debate on this critical issue. The letters were sent to Ottawa the previous day.The Kootenay Co--op was thanked for allowing KFOR members to set up outside their store on Baker St for people to sign the letters, as was the owner of the Vienna Cafe for his support in letting us use his cafe for the press conference. Then a half hour Q and A session completed the event. Later Grant Clubine did a telephone interview with KBS radio and another interview with Nelson Daily News columnist Jocelyn Carver (see Activist article).

Jocelyn Carver article in Nelson Daily News

Kathy Kiel article in Nelson Daily News

Photos from Press Conference